Overtown residents united against 800 home development

The controversial housing development in Overtown has officially been submitted to North Lanarkshire Council.

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Villagers in Overtown are united against proposals to build around 800 homes on greenbelt land.

At a passionate and lively meeting of Overtown and Waterloo Community Council, residents, along with SNP list MSP Clare Adamson and Motherwell and Wishaw MP Marion Fellows, those present voiced their displeasure against the plans to construct the homes on land at Castlehill and Weymsshill Farm.

Many fear if North Lanarkshire Council give the plans the green light it would mean the end of the quiet village life they enjoy.

Community council chairman John Brown was delighted with the public’s response at the meeting.

He said: “Everyone at the meeting was against the plans and there has not been one letter of support submitted to the council.

“We have also had a great deal of support from our elected representatives from all parties.

“The feeling is that we want to keep Overtown as a village but we need everyone to object to the plans.”

The community council’s formal objection to the proposals has now been submitted to council planners.

It quotes extensively from the North Lanarkshire Local Plan and includes a quote from the council itself which states that development in this area would not be desirable.

One paragraph states: “North Lanarkshire Council considered that development was not considered well suited to the farmland/grassland plateau character type along the south of Castlehill Road between Overtown and Gowthrapple, as the area has a strongly defined character with attractive features that a new development could adversely alter.

“New developments within the areas designated as having a recreational landscape character type is also not desirable as this was considered a valued landscape for containing formal and informal recreational areas which would need to replaced elsewhere if built upon.”

In their letter, the community council also voiced concerns about the anticipated increase in vehicles on Castlehill Road and Overtown Road and that plans, provided by the Scottish Mining Museum, show that there are approximately 20 pit openings within working distance of the proposed site.

Residents will have the chance to quiz representatives from Holder Planning, the applicant’s planning agents, at the next community council meeting which will be held on Tuesday, October 6, at 7.30pm in Overtown Community Centre.